Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Mar 30: Lambasting chief minister (CM) Sadananda Gowda for not taking any extra care of areca nut growers in the coastal district, MLA UT Khader said that Gowda is not concentrating on the issue of fruit rot disease existing in the coastal area in particular, but rather generalizing the issue as yellow leaf disease suffered by areca nut trees across the state.
He further said that a special package proposed for areca nut growers was not mentioned in the budget this year.
Compensation for the suffering areca nut growers is still a mirage. He criticized the announcement of Gowda who said that an all party commission will be taken to the centre to sort the issue. Khader questioned the existence of the state administration if all issues are to be taken to the centre. Khader also rued that bankers are seizing the houses of areca nut farmers who are already suffering. “Earlier, up to Rs. 3 lac was given as loan at the interest rate of 1 percent. But now though the interest is nil, the loan amount limit has been brought down to Rs 1 lac. This has forced farmers to get loans from other banks at a higher rate of interest,” he said.
Congress leader Bondala Jagannath Shetty said that CM Gowda himself being an areca nut grower has failed to understand the woes of fellow farmers. He questioned why the report on fruit rot disease was prepared if no compensation was given. He said that an arrangement should be made by the state government to provide Rs 175 cr as compensation.